Google starts selling Nest thermostat in Play Store

When we think “Google Play Store Devices,” the first thing that pops into our head is the Nexus series. But Google’s been slowly adding hardware to its selection over the years, and now you’ll also find Google Play edition Androids, the Chromecast, an assortment of Chrome OS laptops, and a bunch of accessories. Today Google opens up a new chapter in hardware sales, offering the Nest Learning Thermostat.

Why do we care about a thermostat? Especially one that’s not actually running Android itself? Well, while you can certainly interact with Nest through its full color display, taking advantage of all it offers means loading your phone or tablet with the Nest app. That gives you access to a host of data about historic heating trends, lets you remotely adjust climate settings, and helps you aim for the most energy-efficient operation possible.

Official companion apps are available for both iOS and Android devices.

Stephen has been writing about electronics since 2008, which only serves to frustrate him that he waited so long to combine his love of gadgets and his degree in writing. In his spare time, he collects console and arcade game hardware, is a motorcycle enthusiast, and enjoys trapping blue crabs. Stephen's first mobile device was a 624 MHz Dell Axim X30, which he's convinced is still a viable platform. Stephen longs for a market where phones are sold independently of service, and bandwidth is cheap and plentiful; he's not holding his breath. In the meantime, he devours smartphone news and tries to sort out the juicy bitsRead more about Stephen Schenck!